Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
410–25K
1825–50K
2450–75K
3875–100K
38100–150K
16150K+
175 reports with mileage · 41 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Air Bags. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
18 crash reports0 fire reports10 injury reports
What owners actually said
216 reports
19,900 miles · May 17, 2016
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
ON MAY 16, 2016 I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 HYUNDAI ON A CITY STREET AND IT STARTED TO SURGE AND I HAD TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW IT DOWN BUT IT WOULDN'T STOP. LUCKILY I WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT IN THE DRIVEWAY BUT THE UNFORTUNATE PART IS IT DIDN'T STOP UNTIL IT HIT MY HOUSE. IT WAS A VERY TERRIFYING EXPERIENC…
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ON MAY 16, 2016 I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 HYUNDAI ON A CITY STREET AND IT STARTED TO SURGE AND I HAD TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW IT DOWN BUT IT WOULDN'T STOP. LUCKILY I WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT IN THE DRIVEWAY BUT THE UNFORTUNATE PART IS IT DIDN'T STOP UNTIL IT HIT MY HOUSE. IT WAS A VERY TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE. I DON'T THINK I'M GOING TO FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING IT AGAIN.
NHTSA ODI #10865374
153,000 miles · Apr 25, 2016
Service Brakes
WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED AT LOW SPEED, THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM CLICKS IN, EXTENDING THE STOPPING DISTANCE. MY SON DROVE THE CAR AND NEARLY CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AS HE COULDN'T STOP. HE WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM # 065 ON 2003-2004 MODEL YEARS BUT CLEARLY THE PROBLEM EXTENDS TO…
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WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED AT LOW SPEED, THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM CLICKS IN, EXTENDING THE STOPPING DISTANCE. MY SON DROVE THE CAR AND NEARLY CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AS HE COULDN'T STOP. HE WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM # 065 ON 2003-2004 MODEL YEARS BUT CLEARLY THE PROBLEM EXTENDS TO 2005 MODEL YEAR.
NHTSA ODI #10861238
75,000 miles · Mar 15, 2016
Air BagsVehicle Speed Control
THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS CONSTANTLY WHEN THE ENGINE IS STARTED UNTIL IT IS TURNED OFF. THE CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T TURN ON AT ALL AND THE FUSE IS GOOD.
NHTSA ODI #10849825
163,000 miles · Mar 7, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System
GAS TANK IS CORRODED AND LEAKING FUEL DUE TO ROAD SALT BECAUSE I LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST. I WAS NOTIFIED THAT HYUNDAI HAS "EXTENDED THE WARRANTY" ON MODEL YEARS 2001-2006 UP TO 150,000 MILES. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS "EXTENDED WARRANTY" SHOULD HAVE A MILEAGE RESTRICTION, AND I ALSO DO NOT BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE AN EXTENSION OF THE WA…
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GAS TANK IS CORRODED AND LEAKING FUEL DUE TO ROAD SALT BECAUSE I LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST. I WAS NOTIFIED THAT HYUNDAI HAS "EXTENDED THE WARRANTY" ON MODEL YEARS 2001-2006 UP TO 150,000 MILES. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS "EXTENDED WARRANTY" SHOULD HAVE A MILEAGE RESTRICTION, AND I ALSO DO NOT BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE AN EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY BUT AN ALL OUR RECALL BY HYUNDAI. CARS ARE LEAKING GAS! MY CAR HAS NO OTHER RUST ON IT AND I KEEP MY CAR CLEAN AND PARKED IN MY GARAGE. MY GAS TANK SHOULD NOT BE RUSTED OUT ON A CAR THAT IS 10 YEARS OLD. I ALSO OWN A 1999 AND ANOTHER 2005 HYUNDAI (ELANTRA & SONATA) AND NEITHER HAVE ANY GAS TANK CORROSION. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND A DANGEROUS SITUATION.
NHTSA ODI #10840195
Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2016
Unknown Or Other
MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON I STARTED MY VEHICLE ON THE MORNING OF 2/5/16 AND IT WON'T TURN OFF.
NHTSA ODI #10824492
96,052 miles · Jan 21, 2016
EnginePower Train
IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY. WHEN STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD. I MUST THROW IT INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP IT. EVEN WHEN I AM IN PARK IT WILL SUDDENLY ACT LIKE I AM GIVING IT GAS WHEN I AM NOT. IT IS VERY SCARY AND HAPPENING MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY.
NHTSA ODI #10821549
85,000 miles · Jan 15, 2016
Air BagsSeat Belts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AS A FAILURE PROGRESSED WITH THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AS A FAILURE PROGRESSED WITH THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V527000 (AIR BAGS) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V450000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
NHTSA ODI #10820544
90,000 miles · Jan 13, 2016
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 02/26/16*LJ UPDATED 03/14/16.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10819909
100,000 miles · Oct 27, 2015
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA ODI #10786334
Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2015
Air BagsSeat Belts
MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. I WAS INFORMED IT WAS DUE TO THE PASSENGER SEATBELT. SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE TENSION AND THE COMPUTER.
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model Year 2001-2006 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured from March 31, 2000, through February 15, 2006, that are registered and operated, or which were originally sold and registered, in the following 20 salt belt" states and the District of Columbia: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The affected vehicles may experience front coil spring corrosion from road salt, causing the coil spring to fracture and make contact with the tire.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the front coil spring fractures due to corrosion it could cause the coil spring to make contact with the tire, possibly puncturing the tire and increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the coil spring, free of charge. The recall began on October 24, 2014. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 124.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE MAY MISCLASSIFY CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN SEATED ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT AS AN ADULT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE POSSIBILITY OF MISCLASSIFICATION OF CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN AS AN ADULT MAY ALLOW THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION CRASH OR THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A SIDE COLLISION CRASH; SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE'S OCS WILL PROPERLY CLASSIFY CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN WHEN SEATED ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT AND WILL DISABLE THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAGS. DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE VEHICLE'S OCS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT TO PROVIDE AN INCREASED MARGIN FOR RECOGNITION OF CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 6, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI OF PUERTO RICO AT 1-800-981-0188.
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE MAY MISCLASSIFY CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN SEATED ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT AS AN ADULT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE POSSIBILITY OF MISCLASSIFICATION OF CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN AS AN ADULT MAY ALLOW THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION CRASH OR THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A SIDE COLLISION CRASH; SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE'S OCS WILL PROPERLY CLASSIFY CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN WHEN SEATED ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT AND WILL DISABLE THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAGS. DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE VEHICLE'S OCS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT TO PROVIDE AN INCREASED MARGIN FOR RECOGNITION OF CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 21, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2005 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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